There is a lot being said about Sen. John McCain these days. Mostly we hear tributes to his bravery and service but occasionally someone spouts off and denigrates the dying man or uses him as a cudgel to attack the Trump administration or some other political foe.

Those rushing to the defense of McCain in his ill health usually do so with the best intentions, but whatever the prattle around the ailing warrior, we can take away a few truths:

He doesn’t need anyone to defend him. McCain is tough as nails. He was when his captors tortured him and he is today. Even now, he’s throwing elbows and making waves.

He always has.

Even after years of torture and isolation, McCain did not let his experience consume him. “I put the Vietnam War behind me a long time ago,” he said. “I harbor no anger, no rancor.”

The senator does not need to prove anything to anybody. He has used his toughness, defiance and resilience in service of his country on a level few others have.

McCain once wrote, “In prison, I fell in love with my country. I had loved her before then, but like most young people, my affection was little more than a simple appreciation for the comforts and privileges most Americans enjoyed and took for granted. It wasn’t until I had lost America for a time that I realized how much I loved her.”